Pulverized-fuel gas-genebatob



N. F X. BEMREGARDi P'uLvimz fum GAS GENERATOR.

APPCION HLED MAYZI, 191i. 1,351,460

Ptentd Ang. 31, 1920.

2 swims SHEET l.

UNITED sr/iras# NAPOLEON F. X. BIL'AUILEGARD,` OF CHICAGG, ILLINOIS.

PULVERIZED-FUEL GAS-GENERATOR.

Specification o! Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

Application Med Hay 21, 1917. Serial No. 169,942.

1'0 all whom t may concern lle it known that I, NAPOLEON F. X.BrlwuEoAno, a subject of the King of England, and a resident of thecityY of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful lInprovements in Pulverized-Fuel(ias-(ienerators; und I do hereby declare that the followilur is a full,clear, and exact description of the saine, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon,which forin a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a process of fuel supply particularly adaptedfor use with boilers involving the generation of a gas,` whereinpowdered fuel is fed through a feed pipe under pressure and laftermingling with steam, is subjected to heat, causmg the generation of thegas, and substantially vaporizing the entire quantity of fuel, andthereafter blown through :1n-ejector with-additional air preferablyunder prossure., into the furnace for combustion.

With the low grade of fuel which is obtainable in certain localities, ithas been found extremely difficult to burn the same upon grates in thefurnace of a boiler, but by my invention, the use of grates is entirelydispensed with and complete c0mbustion of the fuel assured, withapparently no ash residue or, if any, of such a small amount as to becarried away bythe chimney draft. In this type of installatiomany kindof 4coal fuel may be used, and if not already in a. fine or powderedstate, may be passed through a crusher to reduce the coal to powderedform and thereafter used with a nozzle injector entirely obviating thenecessity for grates and ash handling systems.

It is an object the) fore of this invention to provide a process lorburnin powdered coal, utilizing steam and air un er pressure Vandinducing a flow of the powdered fuel through a heatin means, togetherwith the steam and air be ore admission into the furnace for combustion.y

It is also an object of this invention to provide -a process of burningfuel involving the eneration ofI gas fromA the fuel vby blowm the fuelin a suspended or powdere'd orm through a heated conveyor pipef andejeeting the product thus formed under pressure into the furnace of aboiler for combustion.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a process for burningrcoal wherein preheated powdered fuel and air are blown into a furnaceunder pressure causing i.i stuntuneous and complete combustion of themixture to take place.

lt is furthermore an important object of this invention to provide afuel burning apparatus wherein powdered fuel is blown through a pipe byair under pressure and intermingled with steam and thereafter subjectedto heat and finally forced through an injectortogether with additionalair under pressure into the furnace for combustion.

(lther and further important objects of the invention will be apparentfrom the disclosure in the drawings and specifica- The invention (in apreferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter morefully described.

On the drawings;

Figure l is a diagrammatic view with parts broken away, and parts shownin section illustrating the adaptation of a system embodyingr therinciples of my invention to a boiler and urnace therefor.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section, with parts in elevation, throughthe powdered fuel mixing valve of the system.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a central horizontal longitudinal section through the ejectorin the furnace.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail showing the steam admission means`of theapparatus.

Fig. 7 is a to plan view of the revolving rake member o the mixingvalve.

Fig.l 8 is a sectional detail showing the pivot bearing whereby theheight of the rake member above the adjustable grid plates of the mixingvalve may be adjusted.

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail, with parts in eleyation of the adjustablevanes on line 9-...9 of rig. 2. s

Fi'g. 10 is a fragmentary exterior view 1 end o thereof with parts insection, illustrating the construction.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1, indicates as a whole a boiler setting for aconventional type of return tubular boiler 2. The furnace into whichfuel is introduced for combustion, is denoted by the reference numeral3, and situated at the exterior of the boiler settiuv at a pointconvenient to the source of fuel sup ly is a i'uel mixer, denoted as awhole by he reference numeral 4. Said fuelV mixer, as shown in detail inFig. 2, is provided with a fuel inlet pipe for powdered fuel, and thefuel entering throuoh said pipe 5, passes into a chamber 6. beouredtransversely within the chamber 6, is a stationary id pla-te 7, andslidable there- `over is an a justable grid :late 8, which,

inY Fig. 2, is shown closing tie rid plate 7, so as to prevent thepassage o fue therethrough. The grid plate 7, rests upon lugs 9, formedon a spider 10, having sha-rp edged arms, as shown clearly in Figs. 2and fl, the said lugs being recessed at a distance from the inclosingcasing to support the rid plate 7, which is of less diameter than tieinterior of the casing, so that the periphery of said stationary gridplate 7, over wiich the grid plate 8 moves is spaced from the interiorwall of the fue mixer casing so that fuel cannot laccumulate therearoundand prevent adjustment of the grid plate 8.y

Threaded for Vadjustment through the center of the spider 10, is a aivotor center bearing 11,1 for the lower en(l of a vertical shaft 12, whichis journaled through the top Wall of the mixer casing and is slldably ac'ustable in its bearin A longitudinal oil hole 13) is rovide( throughsaid shaft whereby a ubricant may be introduced through the upper endthereof for the pivot bourrin su port 11. Secured upon the lower saishaft 12, is a rake member 14, comprising four radial. arms having teethformed on the u )er and under sides thereof, as shown in lllgs. 2 andthe teeth of adjacent arms being stag red, so that by 1- rotation ofsaid rake mem er, the powdered fuel is distributed evenly over the gridplates 7 8, and prevented from accumulatinfr thereo eathered upon theupper end of the shaft 12, on the exterior of the fuel mixer casing, isa worm gea-r 15, meshing with a worm 16, which is secured upon a driveshaft 17, journaled yupon the up er end of the fuel mixer casing, andprovic ed `with a wheel 18, to receive e power drive from an suitablesource. Formed on the lower en of the mixer 4, is an obliquely directedpipe or passage 19, into which the owdered coal, passing through thegrid p aies 7 and 8,

falls, and tends to flow to the lower or outlet end thereof by gravity.

A compressed an' supply pipe, having;r a controllin valve 21, isconnected to the upper end o the oblique pipe 19, so that the air, as itpasses the .cha mber under the grid plate T, will tend to crea-te asuction to'i'acilitabe introduction of the pulverized iuol. T he amountof coal fed into the obliquely directed p1pe section 19, is regulatedb5' the adjustment of the rid plate 8 on the grid plate 7, and the gri()late S, is adjusted bj.' means of a hand wheel 22, having a threadedShaft which has threaded connection with an extension 23,` of the gridplate 8, so that rotation of the hand wheel causes a sliding adJustmentmovement of the grid plate 8, either into open or closed relation withthe rid plate -7. Pivotally mounted in the lower end of the oblique piJe section `19, aro four vanes or blades 24 w lich are pivoted on radialaxes, and at t e free ond o'l nach vane is a pin 25, projecting througha curved alot 26, provided in the wall of the pipe section 19.

otatably mounted on the exterior of the pipe section 19, in a grooveprovided therefor, is a collar or ring 27, provided with oblique slotsor grooves 28 on the inner face thereof, one of which is shown in Fig.10, there being one slot for each of the pins 25, whereby rotationaladjustments of said ring or collar will cause al pivotal adjustment ofthe vanes 24, into different angular positions within the pipe section19. The purpose of saidvanes ls to impart a spiral How to the air andpowdered fuel blown therebetween us it'passes from the pipe section 19for thoroughly distributing the pulverized fuel in the air. Connected tothe outlet end of the oblique pipe section 19, of the mixer, is a convoer pipe 29, which ieads downwardly anc through the boiler setting 1, atthe rear end thereof, passing along beneath the boiler so as to besub'eoted' to the heat ofthe combustion of the iel in the furnace 3, andafter passage through the boiler cornbuston chamber and furnace 3emerging through 4the front wall oi the boiler setting. Connected intosaid conveyor pipe 29, on the exterior of the boiler settingr prior toentrance of the conveyor pipe thereinto, is a stream jet ring 30, shownin detail in Fir. 6, consisting of a pipe section with a vserios ofsmall apertures arranged circumferentially around the pipe section andcommuni eating with a peripheral passage 31, extending aroi'in'd thesection 30aud a steam eupply pipe 32, is connected to this'passage 31. Acontrol valve 33, is provided in the steam supply pipe 32 to regulatethe quantity of steam admitted into the conveyer pipe 29. The conveyorpipe 29, after it passes through the front wall of the boilersetting' 1,is bent back as shown in Fig. 1 and communicates into a nozzle shapedshell 34, of an injector. Connected to said shell 34 is an air supplypipe 35, controlled b a valve 36, through which air, preferaby underpressure,

chamber 3, simultaneously with the prod ucts from the pipe 29.

The operation is as follows:

rl`he powdered coal is received from any suitable source in the inletpipe 5, of the mixer 4, and after flowing downwardly upon the gridplates 'lv-8, is agitated thereover by the revolving arms of the rakemember 14, the teeth of the arms being preferably knife edged as shownin Fig. 2.

he openin through the grid plates 7--8, is regulate by the hand wheel22, to permit the desired quantities of fuel to pass through the mixer.The powdered fuel then fiows downwardly into the obliquely directed pipesection 19, of the mixer, and is there taken up by the air assingthrough the pipe 20, the quantity o air being controlled by the valve21, In order that the fuel and air may be thoroughl intermixed, thevanes 24, are provided w ich may be set to deflect the air andpulverized fuel spirally and prevent settling of the fuel in portions ofthe pipe and at a point farther alon in the pipe 29, a spray of steam isadmitted into the mixture at the pipe connection 30.

The mixture of steam, air and powdered fuel, which is carried insuspension at high velocity through the conveyer pipe 29, is nextsubjected to the intense heat of combustion of the fuel beneath theboiler 2, the conveyer pipe Q9, extending through the combustion chamberand furnace of the setting so that the contents of the convryer pipe 29,are heated to a high degree. his causes a distillation of gas from thepowdered fuel, and in the presence of the steam which has been admittedinto the conveyer pipe, a highly combustible fuel mixture is obtained.This mixture flows into the injector 34, where a further quantity of airpreferably under pressure is supplied, assisting the flow of fuel fromthe outlet of the conveyer pipe 29, and supplying additional air forcombustion of the mixture, so that the mixture actually flashes intoflame when admitted into the furnace chamber.

The amount of steam admitted to the fuel mixture is governed by thecontrol valve 33. and the additional supply of air under pressureprovided at the injector 34, is controlled by the valve 36. It isevident, therefore, that all the components of the fuel mixture may beregulated to the de sired extent to secure the most'eliicient operationofthe fuel burning apparatus.

is introduced into the combustion4 vsaid mixer, a conveyer In someinstances the operation may be permitted to take place without theaddition of steam particularly if the powdered fuel is damp as the waterabsorbed by the fuel will be converted into steam during .passagethrough the heated conveyer pipe.

I am aware that the details of construction may be varied through a widerange without departing from the principles of this invention, but Ipurpose claiming broadly the process of burning fuel by ing the same inthe furnace after a certain preliminary treatment.

I claim as my invention:

1. The process of burning fuel, which consists in mixing powdered fuelwith air, then subjecting the mixture to an intense heat, then mixing anadditional supply of air therewith, and thereafter introducing themixture into a furnace chamber for com bustion.

2. The process of burning fuel. which consists in introducing a powderedfuel into a blast of air under pressure.` then admitting steam-into themixture, then subjecting the mixture to an intense heat, and thereafterdischarging the mixture together with an additional supply of air into afurnace for combustion.

3. A fuel supply apparatus, comprising a conduit having an outlet at oneend. means for supplying air thereto near its inlet end, supplementalair supply means at the outlet end thereof. means fo'r heating a portionof said conduit intermediate its ends, and means for supplyingpulverized fuel to said conduit intermediate its inlet end and itsheated portion.

4. A fuel supply apparatus, comprising a conduit having an outlet at oneend, means for supplying air thereto at its inlet end, supplemental airsupply means at the outlet end thereof, means for heating a. portion ofsaid conduit intermediate its said ends, means for supplying pulverizedfuel to said conduit intermediate its inlet end and its heated portion,and means for supplying steam to said conduit intermediate its fuelinlet and its heated portion.

5. A fuel supply apparatus, comprising a mixer, means for controllingthe flow o'f powdered fuel therethrough, air pressure meanscommunicating with the outlet from pipe communicating with said outlet.means for introducing steam into said` conveyer pipe, and an` injectorwith which said conveyer pipe is connected to supply air under pressureat the point of discharge of the fuel from said pipe.

6, A fuel supply apparatus, com rising a mixer adapted to regulate theow of powdered fuel, a conveyer pipe to receive the same, means forforcing the fuel under flash-` air pressure through said conveyer pipe,means for introducing steam into said conveyor pipe, meansv for heatingsaid conveyor pip after the introduction of the air, powdered fuel andsteam thereinto to generate gas, and an injector at the outlet end ot'said conveyor pipe for supplying additional quantities of air underpressure.

7. A fuel burning system, comprising the kombination with a boiler, andits furnace and combustion chamber, of a conveyor pipe` means forintroducing powdered fuel, air and steam thereinto, said eonveyer pipeextending,r through the combustion chamber and furnace of the boiler tosubject the contents of said pipe to the heat thereof for the generationof gas, and an injector to supply air under pressure at the point ofinjection of the contents of salti conveyer pipe into the furnace of theboiler.

8. In an apparatus for preparing pulverized fuel for combustion, thecombination of a conduit, means for supplying vapor and pulverized fuelto said ronduit, an adjustable defleetor in said conduit adapted to impart a spiral movement to the vapor and fuel, and meansfor changing thepitch of said deflector.

9. In an apparatus for pre-paring pulverized fuel for combustion, theeombination of a conduit, a vapor supply means communicating with saidconduit, a casing communicating with said conduit and having apulverized fuel supply inlet thereto, a. perforated valve forcontrolling the arlmission oi pulverized fuel to said conduit, and acontinuously movable agitator adjacent the valve for distributing thepulverized fuel evenly throu h Said valve.

n testimony Whereof have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses. NAPOLEON t. x. BEAUREGARD. Witnesses:

GHARLEs W. HILLS, Jr., EARL M. HARDINE.

